Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-06-08
Letter From Kansas.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, May 1SSI

TOPEKA, KANSAS, May 1851.
DEAR SENTINEL We welcome your
weekly news to our western home
from the valley of the Juniata. How
changed since the time L left the pa
rental roof and said the fond good
bye TO a dear mother and good sis-
ters and brothers to seek fortune or
failure in the then far west which
was Indiana. 1 took passage on
canal packet boat to Hollidaysburg
from which place we we're pulled ov-
er the Allegheny mountains on the
Portage railroad by station engines
that were located at the head of each
plain, or at the end of each zig gag
to Johnstown, and there again took
canal packet to Pittsburg, thence
by steamboat on the Ohio river to
Madison, Indiana, thence by r. r.
to Indianapolis, where staid over
Sunday and heard Henry Ward
Beecher preach Indianapolis was
then a small town Ohio, how won
dered, years after when 1 stood on
the Union depot, at the magic
changes. From Indianapolis L iourn-
eyed west across corduroy roads
20 miles to Logansport then a small
town. They we're then starting Chi
cago in swamp, and people who
believed themselves wise laughed at
men for buying swamp land, but see
the change in 40 years and tell you
Topeka is just where Chicago was,
only things move faster. A farm
that sold five years ago for,S300G was
sold a few days ago for $4,000 an
other for $4,000 A year ago par
ty of men gave thirty-two hundred
dollars for a 20 acre tract of land
and have Just refused $4,000 for it.
Two young machinists bought prop
erty few years ago at so a month
and have been buying and selling
until now they own fine houses and
have thousands to their credit in
bank. l write you of these advance
ments until you tire of them. There
is nothing more certain, Topeka is
booming up for the future as a great
distributing point of the vast east !
and west. 1t is destined TO bea great /
center. 1t Is the Capital I
Of the state and is the center Of the
United States and is bound to be a
great city whether we will see it or
not Charter after charter are filed
for enterprises every day until we
cease to wonder and only wait to see
what tomorrow will bring forth. So
rapid are the advancements that we
cease to be surprised, and is it any
wonder, when only last fall a tract
If only 40 acres of land sold for $50
300 and is now being bargained for
1t Sl5O,000 to be plotted and put on
,he market. We are to have circular
able r. r, water, gas, electric light,
md $4,000 inhabitants all have come
n 26 years. Last year we built
800 houses This year we expect
% build 2O00 houses. We are Just
now trying to feel not surprised, ov-
sr the fact that a Boston company
Of capitalists have gone up the river
s:1 miles and bought several hill
farms paying 100000. From this
land lovely views ale to be had.
They propose to build fine hotel,
and to extend the circular rapid trans
it R. r. to this property, and make
a good road for a fine drive, which
will be lit up by electric light at
night. They will construct a dam
across the river and put up manufac-
tories at a cost of S10,G00,0OO. This !
will then be one Of the most beauti- |
full as it is one of the most healthfui |
places in the United States. We are
just high enough for good health.
Many people of poor health make
the mistake in going to Colorado. |
1t is too high for weak people. Peo-
pie in poor health are finding out |
what climate we have. Men and |
money are coming here by every
train. The real estate offices are
crowded, in numerous cases fortunes
are made in q day. Good bye.
7. B. THOMPSON. |